March 30, 2012

ORLANDO -- When the Dallas Mavericks need a key basket, they usually go to their 11-time All-Star.

And Dirk Nowitzki came through again in the clutch.

Nowitzki banked in a 16-footer with 5.9 seconds left as the Mavs rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to stun the Orlando Magic, 100-98, Friday night at the Amway Center. The victory gave the Mavs (30-23) a 1-1 split of their two-game Florida road trip.

Despite Nowitzki's heroics, the Magic had a chance to at least send the game into overtime, or possibly win it. But Hedo Turkoglu misfired on a three-pointer, and when Ryan Anderson snatched the offensive rebounds, he missed a point-blank layup as time expired.

Delonte West hit a pair of free throws to put the Mavs ahead, 98-97. However, Jameer Nelson tied it when he split two free throws with 26.9 seconds remaining.

Then, Nowitzki went to work over Turkoglu.

The game was tied at 91-91 when Anderson drilled a pair of free throws, then worked hard and scored after grabbing an offensive rebound to put Orlando up, 95-91, with 3:32 left.

Six straight points by Nelson helped stake the Magic to a 77-62 lead with 2:35 remaining in the thrid period.But Jason Terry 10 consecutive point and passed to Shawn Marion for a fast break dunk that tied the game at 89-89 with 8:12 to go in the game.

The Magic rolled to a 27-17 lead after the first period as the Mavs had a difficult time trying to find open looks.Orlando held a 55-46 cushion at the half as Dwight Howard had his way inside the paint.

Behind nine points from Carter, the Mavs led 29-24 after the first quarter. But the Heat kept pressuring the Mavs and wound up leading, 60-53, at intermission. Miami's lead grew to 78-65 with 2:47 left in the third period following a 16-6 run.

The Mavs got within seven (90-83) with 4:37 remaining in the game, but failed to play solid defense down the stretch and were outscored 16-2 the rest of the way.

March 25, 2012

Normally the third-string center for the Dallas Mavericks, Wright had his most efficient game of the season Saturday when he had 14 points, six rebounds and seven blocks in a 101-99 overtime win over the Houston Rockets. His performance has been a welcomed sight by the Mavs, whose starting center, Brendan Haywood, has missed the past five games with a sprained right knee.

“There’s sometimes you think he’s got no shot to getting that ball, but one quick step and he basically has his elbow above the rim,’’ Nowitzki said. “He’s a good rebounder, and offensively he’s got that little half-roll.

“He’s got a great touch, he’s a little lefty, and has either a floater or a little jump shot in the lane. He’s quick on his feet. He’s quick off his feet.’’

Coach Rick Carlisle was more pleased with Wright's performance against the Rockets than the way heplayed Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs. In that game Wright collected eight points, nkine rebounds and one blocked shot in 20 minutes.

"He bounced back (Saturday), because (Friday) night he didn't have a great night,'' Carlislesaid. "He played some minutes (Friday) night, but didn't have much impact.

"He was terrific (Saturday) -- really moving from the moment he stepped on the court. He was afactor on both ends of the court and hit some big shots and made big plays.''

“It was the biggest win of the year for us,’’ the Dallas Mavericks coach said. “It really was.

“We were fighting back all night – until the end of regulation. They made a couple of plays, and we made a couple of plays.’’

In the end, the Mavs made more clutch plays than the Rockets. And that’s why the Mavs (28-22) are in the No. 5th spot in the Western Conference standings, while the Rockets (26-23) are in the No. 9 spot and would be out of the playoffs if they started today.

Had the Mavs lost Saturday, they would have been in the No. 9 spot. Thus, the sense of urgency form the defending NBA champions.

“We knew (about the playoff slippage) a long time ago,’’ said Dirk Nowitzki, who tallied 31 points. “Especially coming out of that nine games in 12 days (stretch) and how many spots we slipped down in the standings.

“We definitely knew then it was going to be on for the rest of the season. If that means we’ve got to scrap like we did tonight and grind those wins out, then that’s what we’ve got to do.’’

Thanks to eight points in the fourth quarter by Jason Terry – he also scored six of the Mavs’ 10 points in overtime – Dallas was able to get out of town with a much-needed victory. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for the struggling Mavs, who again got beat on the board, 52-38.

“I love playing in this building,’’ said Terry, who was 9-of-16 from the field and tallied 24 points. “It’s a great shooting background.

“I’m very comfortable here. They said it’s a playoff game, and that’s all I need to hear.’’

And with teams dropping two or three spots in one day, the Mavs don’t believe anything is a lock at this point.

“Nobody is guaranteed of being in the playoffs,’’ Terry said. “You’re a three- or four-game losing streak from being out (of the playoffs) , so you have to really look at every game and take it serious.’’

The next game the Mavs are taking serious is, well, Houston. The Rockets will complete this home-and-home series when they face the Mavs at American Airlines Center on Tuesday night.

“The next one will be even bigger,’’ Terry said. “Hopefully once we get to the playoffs -- if we getthere, which I’m optimistic that we are going to be there – it’s going to turn around for us. ‘’

March 24, 2012

HOUSTON -- On a night when Dirk Nowitzki became the No. 19th all-time scorer in NBA history, the Dallas Mavericks earned a split of their Texas two-step when they beat the Houston Rockets 101-99 Saturday night in overtime at the Toyota Center.

Chase Budinger missed a wide open three-pointer at the buzzer that would gave given the Rockets the victory.

The victory came one night after the Mavs got drilled by the San Antonio Spurs, 104-87.

Barkley finished his career with 23,757 points. Nowitzki now has 23,758.

The Mavs (28-22) had the ball and were nurisng a 102-99 lead. But they commiytted an eight-second violation, giving the Rockets (26-23) the ball and the chance to win the game.

Nowitzki could have possibly sealed it for the Mavs when he went to the free throw line with 10.9 seconds left and Dallas ahead, 90-88. Nowitzki, however, split two freee throws, which only left the Mavs up, 91-88.

Houston seized the moment, and Chandler Parsons send the game into overtime tied at 91-91 when he nailed a three-point field goal with just 3.3 seconds left.